Edward orlando bryden



E.'O. BRYDEN'. POST OFFICE SIGNAL CALL BOX.

(N0 Model.)

/ V// V/ g (UNITED STATES- PATENT OFFICE.

EDWARD ORLANDO BRYDEN, OF OALDYVELL, KANSAS.

POST-OFFICE SlGNAL CALL-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 361,046, dated April 12, 1887,

Application filed J anua ry 27, 1887, Serial No. 225,687. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

, Be itknown that I, EDWARD ORLANDO-BRY- DEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Caldwell, in the county .of Sumner and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Post-Office Signal Gall-Boxes, of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates toan improved postoffice signal call-box; and it consists in a certain novel construction and arrangement of parts for service, fully set forth hereinafter, and specifically pointed out in the claims.

The object of my inventionis to provide a post office box which will be a safeguard against robbery, will be more easily manipulated than the ordinary 1ock-boxes,and-will save much of the present labor of the postmasters. I attain these objects in the drawings hereto annexed, in which is illustrated a postoffice mail and call box embodying my improvements, and in which- Figure 1 is a perspective view of the box with the signal-flag extended in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is a horizontal longitudinal section taken on the line was of Fig. 3. Fig. 3 is a vertical longitudinal central section. Fig. 4 is a perspective of the box with the flag extended and the door thrown open.

Referring to the drawings, in which similar letters denote corresponding parts in all the figures,A designates the box, made of woodor metal, having the rear open side and the front side closed by a hinged door, B, having the opening near the bottom fitted with glass, as is usual in mail-boxes. The door is held closed by a catch, C, engaging in a notch, d, in the end of the spring-latch D, that is pivoted on the inside of the box at'the point E, and extends entirely through the box and projects a short distance beyond the rear side thereof. The notched end of the latch is normally held raised by the leaf-spring Fpressing down upon the long arm thereof, which long arm is held from lateral play by the guide or way G. The

contact ends of the catch 0 and latch D are rounded or beveled to slide over each other when making engagement, and the door is thrown open when said catch is disengaged by the leaf-spring H, secured in a recess, h, in the upper front edge of the box, whichrecess the inner end thereof.

is covered by the upper edge of the door when it is closed.

I represents a spring bolt or catch placed on the outside of the door,atthe outer edge thereof, to engage and hold in place a detent, K,

on the signal-bar L and prevent said signalbar from being drawn out by the ring I on the end thereof until the said spring-bolt is drawn back out of engagement with the said detent K. The said signal-bar L is adapted to slide in the groove M, formed in the outside of the box, and at the rear end of the said bar isa stud, N, which engages in a curved slot, O, in the signal flag or plate P, pivoted at the point 1), near the rear end of the box. Said flag or plate is provided with the box-number or the'name of the owner of the box on the lower part, and is adapted to have said part swung out beyond the rear edge of the box to expose said number or name by drawing the signalbarLout after releasing its detent from the catch I, as has been'described.

The manner of operating my invention is as follows: The person desiring his mail draws back the spring-detaining catch by means of the knob thereon and draws out the signal bar, thus throwing out the signal at the rear of the box to attract the attention of the postmaster, who then raises the rear end of the latch D, thereby releasing the catch 0 on the door, which door is then thrown open by the spring H. After taking his mail, the person on the outside closes the door against the force of the spring and causes the catch 0 to engage in the notch of the latch-bar D,while the spring-bolt I, striking against the detent Kon the signal-bar, forces said bar back into its first position and draws back the signal on less likely to get out of order than the meansused in the ordinary lock-boxes, and more easily repaired when damaged, as will be readily understood.

The signaling device is also very simple and eflective. It is normally held in a closed or withdrawn position, and is easily released and extended to attract the attention of the postmaster, who is informed by the number or name on the said signal as to the party wishing his mail; and when the mail has been collected the signal is withdrawn and locked in the first position by the same motion which closes the door.

The extreme simplicity of the device enables it to be manufactured very cheaply, and this, in addition to its undeniable effectiveness, should be sufficient recommendation to gain for it popular favor and general use.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim,and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. A post-office mailbox having a door provided with a catch on its rear side, combined with a latch pivoted to the side of the box and engaging the catch, and a spring secured within the box and bearing on the latch in rear of its pivotal point, substantially as set forth.

2. In a post-office 1nail-box,the combination,with the door having the catch 0, of the latch pivoted within the box and extending through the same, a spring bearing on the latch, and aguide at the rear end of the box to receive the end of the latch and prevent lateral play thereof, substantially as specified.

'3. In a post-office mail-box, the door provided with a catch, 0, combined with thelatch D, pivoted on the inside of the box and extending'a short distance beyond the rear end thereof, said latch being normally held in engagement with the catch 0 by the spring F, and the spring H,to throw the door open when released, substantially as described.

4. In a post-office mail-box, the signaling device comprising a bar extending the length of the box and connecting with a signal flag or plate having the number of the box or the name of the owner thereon, substantially as described.

5. In a post-office mail-box, the signaling device comprising a bar sliding in the box and having a stud on the rear end, the signal-plate having a curved slot to receive the stud, said plate being pivoted near the rear end of the box, and the rod being adapted,when pulled out, to swing the said signal into view, substantially as described.

6. In a post-office mail-box, the signaling device comprising a bar, L, sliding in the side of the box and carrying a signal, and adapted to extend the signal when operated, combined with detent on thesaid bar to engagein a catch and normally hold the signal withdrawn, substantially as described, for the purpose set forth. I

7. In a postoffice mail-box, the pivoted signal P, combined with the bar L, sliding in the side of the box and connected with and moving the signal, substantially as described.

8. In apost-office mail-box, the signal-plate P and the sliding bar for operating the same, the detent on the front end of the bar, and the spring bolt or catch, adapted to be drawn back to release the detent and allow the signalbar to be operated,and designed to engage with said detent when the door is closed to withdraw the signal operated by the said bar, sub stantially as described, for the purpose set forth.

In testimony that I claim that the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

EDWARD ORLANDO BRYDEN.

XVitncsses:

G. D. BOWSER, P. D. hIE'ICALF. 

